Device for teaching the art of sailing a boat



July 16, 1940. s w ROUSSEAU 2,208,083

DEVICE FOR TEACHING THE ART OF SAILING A BOT Filed July 27, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 16, 1940. s. w. ROUSSEAU DEVICE FOR TEACHING THE ART OF SAILING A BOAT Filed July 27, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmc/who@ ,mf. k/V

July 16, 1940. s. w. RoussEAu DEVICE FOR TEACHING THE ART OF SAILING' A BOAT Filed July 27, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,25 depends on both these factors.

Patented July 186, 1940 UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFiCE DEv'IoE Fon TEACHING THE ART oF sAiLING A BOAT Seifert W. Rousseau, Port Washington, N. Y. Application July 27, 1938, Serial No..221,577

19 Claims.

5 action of a boat sailing in the water.

The essential object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described which will be responsive to wind conditions so as to heel or tilt in accordance with the wind 1.1.0 vforce and direction, and which may be turned vide an apparatus which is subject to movement both by wind and a mechanical operating device controlled by the person being instructed so that the condition of the apparatus at any time The device will immediately respond to the handling of the person being instructed and will behave in accordance with the good or bad judgment exercised.

. The invention consists in the provision ofy a body member, which may or may not be an actual small boat, provided with a sail and mounted for tilting movement about a horizontal longitudinal axis. The body member is also mounted for turning movement in` both directions about a stationary vertical axis, and reversible motor means are provided regulatable through a control member by a person in the body member.

Various detailed features providing for adjustment of the apparatus to suit any desired conditions, and others contributing towards the vproduction of good operation under all conditions will become apparent from the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings and hereafter to be described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of the complete apparatus;

. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken `on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section corresponding to the View shown in Fig. 1;

4 is an enlarged vertical section illustrat- A further object of the invention is to proing the details of certain parts shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View corresponding to Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view corresponding to Fig. 1, but with the sail omitted;

Fig. 7 is a detailed view of the front end of the body member;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the front end of the body member and showing in disassembled condition the means for adjustably and pivotally 1 supporting the same;

Fig. 9 is a more or less diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 1 of a modiiied form of the invention; and,

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram to supplement the showing in Figs. l. and 3.

The apparatus includes a circular stationary base member II set in concrete or otherwise anchored to a suitable support, and which is preferably hollow as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A frame is rotatably supported for turning movement on the base member around the vertical axis thereof. In the present case the frame is in the form of a cross, best shown in Fig. 6, and comprises a relatively long main frame member I3 fixed to the head member I 2 journaled for rotation on base member II and a cross member I4 projecting out on each side of the longitudinal member at the base member. As best shown in Fig. 2 the opposite arms of the cross member I 4 are offset downwardly for reasons which will hereafter become evident. Posts I5 carrying rollers I6 are provided at the opposite ends of the frame member I3 to support the same for rotation about the base member. Similar but shorter posts I'I carrying rollers I8 as shown in Fig. 2 are provided at the opposite ends of the cross member I4.

Mounted on the frame for rotation therewith and so as to be capable of tilting movement about a longitudinal axis is a body member I9, carrying a mast 2|), mainsail 2l and jib 22. In the present case the body member is shown in the form of a small sailing skiff, but it will be understood that while the use of an actual boat is desirable for purposes of realism the body member may take some other form, although in all cases some sort of a sail or sails will be employed for purposes of the invention.

The body member is raised above the supporting frame and is pivotally mounted so as to be tiltable transversely thereof under the action of the wind on the sails according to the force and direction thereof. In the present case pivot studs or shafts 23 and 24 are secured to the front and rear ends of the body member journaled in supporting posts 25 and 26 at the opposite ends ofmain frame member I3. It is desirable that the horizontal tilting axis of the body member as represented by studs 23 and 24 shall be vertically adjustable to vary the position of the axis to different distances above the center of gravity of the body member. In this Way the sensitivity of the body member to heeling over, or tilting under any given wind conditions, can be varied to suit the weight of the person to be instructed who sits in the body member. Any suitable arrangement for raising and lowering the pivot studs at the ends of the body member may be employed. One such arrangement is shown by way of example in Figs. 7 and 8. In such case a metal channel member 21 is secured to the front end of the body member provided with a series of vertically spaced holes 28 through which the head 2S of pivot stud 23 is insertable. As best shown in Fig. 7 Athe holes .are provided with a restricted upper portion 3G adapted to fit the recessed neck portion 3l of the stud so as to firmly secure the same in horizontal position. As best shown in Fig. 3, head 29 must be disposed at an angle to the axis of stud 23 by reason of the inclination of the front end of the body member and channel member 21. A similar adjustable arrangement at the rear end of the body member is employed for pivot stud 24. Through this arrangement the .tilting axis of the body member may be raised and lowered relative thereto, an-d incidentally such adjustment will raise and lower the position of the body member relative to the supporting frame.

By reason of the inclination of the ends of the body member it will be evident that when the studs are inserted in lower holes of the channel member they will be. closer together. It is therefore desirable that one or both of the sup-porting posts 25, 25 be mounted on main frame member I3 for adjustment lengthwise thereof so that their spacing may be decreased to properly journal the studs Under the conditions just mentioned. In Fig. 3 post 2t 'is shown as being adjustably secured through bolts 3E which may be inserted in any of the series of holes 33 in different adjusted positions lengthwise of frame member I3.

The body member is steered by the person seated therein by causing the supporting frame to turn on base il through the use of motor means. The motor is indicated at 34 in Figs. 1 and 3. In the present case such motor is mounted on the underside of the frame member I3 and operates through a reduction gear 35, shaft 36 and bevel gears 3l and 33 to rotate the frame member. The motor y34.'. should be of the reversible type. Areduction gear is desirable so that rotation will be relatively slow and accurately represent the response of a sailboat to a rudder. In the latter connection it may be stated that the arrangement is preferably such that the turning speed in either direction should be variable within range of from 2 to 15 revolutions per minute.

YThe control for the motor comprises Va tiller member 39 pivotally mounted at the rear of the body member on a suitable. support 4G. Such support carries two arcuate electric rheostats 4| and 42 slightly spaced from each other at their inner ends. An electric 'contact 43 on the tiller member under movement of the latter to the right works over rheostat 4|, and under movement to the left Works over rheostat 42.

Since both `the motor and control member just referred to are both rotatable with the frame lt is best to provide an arrangement such that current from any suitable source can be supplied without. regard to how many times the frame is rotated in one direction or another. In Figs. 3 and 4 the power lines l-t and 45 are shown as entering the supporting base ii and connecting with spaced brush contacts i6 and 47 which wipe against contact rings it and t9 secured to the underside of rotatable head 2. Current is taken off from the respective rings through posts 5G and 5I. As schematically represented in Fig. 3 one of the posts is connected with the reversible motor, and the other post with contact f3?. of the tiller member 3%. 'I'he outer ends of the rheostats il and 42 are connected to the other two terminals of the reversible motor. By reference to the wiring diagram in Fig. 1) the actual connections may be better understood. The wiring Withrespect to the motor is such that ino-vement of the tiller member 3i) to the right will make ay circuit through the entire resistance of rheostat 4| and cause thek motor to very slowly rotate the frame and the body member in a counterclock- Wise direction, representing turning of a boat to the starboard. As the tiller member 39 is moved farther to the right the electrical resistance of rheostat 1li will gradually be reduced and the frame will be rotated by the motor at an increasing speed up to a limit of about l5y R. P. M.

Movement of tiller member 3Q to the left will set up la circuit through resistance 42, causing the motor to rotate in the opposite direction and turn the frame member in a clockwise direction, representing turning of a boat towards the port side.

With the arrangement described the body member I9 will tilt over to a varying degree dependinggon the strength and direction of the wind. By turning the tiller member 39 to either the right or the left the body member may be turned to change the position of the sails with reference to the direction of the wind. Obviously the more the body member is turned into the wind the less will be the action of the wind on the sails and the less the tilting or" the body mem,- ber. When the body member is turned across the Windit will obviously tilt to a greater degree. Suitable block and rope tackle representingthe main sheet for controlling the mainsail 2l will be provided, so that the mainsail may swing from one side to the other to a varying degree under control or" the occupant. Thus, tacking and jibing may be practiced, and the occupant may also acquire experience in determining how far the mainsaid should be taken in or let out in accordance with varying positions of the body member with reference to the direction and strength oi the wind. Similar tackle will be provided for the jib. All of such tackle has been omitted from the drawing for purposes of clarity, but its arrangement will be understood by anyone familiar with saidboats. lt will be noted that reef points 52 may be in several series on the mainsail 22 so that the sail may be reefed in case of a strong wind.

To prevent injurycr strain to the apparatus, and prevent jar of the occupant inl the case of jibing or tacking too quickly, and further to serve to limit and cushion tilting 'ci the body member I9 on its supporting frame, it may be desirable to provide cushion members 53 and 54 onv the opposite depressed' arms of the cross frame member I4 as shown in Fig. 2. The depressed arrangement of the arms serves to perm-it a` substantial .tically aligned with` the turningv axis.

degree of ,tilting of the body member to either side. vAfter tilting toa certain degree the body member will contact one vor the other of the cushions which, as here shown, comprises coil springs.

In the embodiment of the invention which has been described it will be noted by reference to Figs. l to 3 that the supporting base Il is positioned substantially at the midpoint of long frame member I3, and that mast of the body member is located substantially forward of the base member. This means that the mast, about Which the mainsail turns will not coincide With the turning axis. The coincidence of the mast With the turning axis is calculated toprovide improved handling of the apparatus and according to an improved embodiment illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 9 the mast may be ver- In such embodiment 6I indicates the supporting base 63 the ,frame which turns about the base, 69 the vbody member, 'l0 the mast, and 1I and 12 the mainsail and jib. It will be noted that the mast 'it is in vertical alignment with base member 6|. The mast 10 may be positioned in body member 69 somewhat rearwardly as compared with the relationship of the corresponding portions of the construction previously described. The supporting base is located somewhat for- Wardly of the midpoint of the long frame member 63as it is by no means necessary that the frame should turn about its midpoint as in the case of the previous construction.

It Will be evident that the invention is Well calculated to teach `al1 phases of sailing a boat. Additionally the same has an amusement value. While the invention is primarily intended for use out-of-doors so that advantage may be taken of naturalwind conditions it can, of course, be used indoors by creating an artificial wind through the use of a large power driven blower. It will be understood that the form ofthe invention herein illustrated and described is merely illustrative, and that various changes` and modiiications Within the principles of the invention may be employed ,withoutdeparting therefrom. The scope of the invention is therefore to be determined accordingl to the appended claims.

I claim:

, 1. Aninstructional vdevice comprising a stai tionary base member, a body member mounted on said base member for turning movement on a iixed vertical axis and tilting movement about a horizontal axis, and sail means upstanding from the body member actuatable by air currents to tilt the body memberv about said horizontal axis.

, 2. An instructional device comprising a stationary base member, a body member mounted `on said base member for horizontal turning movement on a xed vertical axis and tilting movement on a horizontal axis, sail means on the body member upstanding about the tilting axis actuatable by air currents to` tilt the body member about said horizontal axis, and means for effecting horizontal turning of the body member on the base member.

3. An instructional device comprising a sta- `tonary base member, a body member mounted on said base member for horizontal turning movement on a fixed vertical axis and tilting movement on a horizontal axis, sail means upstanding from the body member actuatable by, air currents to tilt the body member about said horizontal axis, and reversible motor means Afor effecting horizontal turning of the body member on the'basemember in both directions about its versible turning means. 415

5. `An instructional device comprising a stationary base member,` a body member mounted on said base member for horizontal turning movement on a xed vertical axis and tilting movement on a horizontal axis, sail means up..20 standing from the body member actuatable by air currents to tilt the body member about said horizontal axis, means for horizontally turning the body member at varying speeds about its turning axis, land speed control means on tha-,M body member for said turning means.

6. An instructional device comprising a stationary base member, a body member mounted on said base member for horizontal turning movement on a fixed vertical axis and tiltingw movement on a horizontal axis, sail means upstanding from the body member actuatable by air currents to tilt the body member about said `horizontal axis, reversible motor means for ef fecting horizontal turning of the body at varying speeds in both directions about its turning axis," and control means on the body for reversing and for varying the speed of themotor means.

k7. An instructional device comprising `a stationary base member, a body member mountedy) on Vsaid base member for horizontal turning movementon a fixed vertical axis and tilting -movement on a horizontalaxis, sail means upstanding from the body member actuatable by air currents to tilt the body member about said,

horizontal axis, a pivoted control member on the" body member, and means controlled by movement `of said control member for horizontally turning the body member about its turning axis.

8. An instructional `device comprising a stamgio tionary base member, a body member mounted on said base member for horizontal turning movement on a fixed vertical axis and tilting Amovement `on a horizontal axis, sail means upstanding from the body member actuatable byls air currents to tilt the body member about said horizontal axis, reversible motor means for turning the body member about its turning axis,v a control arm on the body member movable in a direction to cause the motor means to turn the., body member in one direction and reverselyw movable to cause the motor means to turn the body member in the opposite direction.

9. An instructional device comprising a stationary base member, a body member mounted 65 on said base member for horizontal turning movement on a iixed vertical axis and tilting movement on a horizontal axis, sail means upstanding from the body member actuatable by air currents to tilt the body member about said horizontal axis, a reversible electric motor for turning the body member about its turning axis,

a control member in the body member carrying an electric contact element, a pair of electric rheostats connecting with and controlling rota- I5 on said base member for horizontal turning vmovement on a iixedvertical axis and tilting ymovement on a-horizontal axis, sail means upthrough its contact element makingI Contact "with one `rheostat to cause the motor to rotate'in one -direction and upon movement'in the reverse di- A-re'ction making contact jWith the second rheostat to cause the motorto rotate in `thefother direction.

l0. An'instructional device vcomprising a stationary base member, a body member mounted 'standing from the body member actuatable by air currents to tilt the body member about said horizontal axis, `motor means for turning 'the "body vmember -about its turning axis, control means for the motor means, anda reduction gearing'for causing the motor means to turn the body member at verylslow speed.

l1. `An instructional" device including a sta- *tionary supporting member, a body meinbercomfprising or simulating a boat body mounted on saidbasemember, fo-rtilting movementabout a horizontal axis extending lengthwisethereof and for rotational movementabout a xed vertical axis locatedat a point intermediate the front and rear ends of the body member, a mast upkstanding from the body member, sail means suprported by the mast actuatable by air currents to tilt the body' member aboutv said horizontal `vraxis, reversible motor means for turning the body lsupported by and tiltable on the fra-me about a lho'rizontal axis, and sail means upstanding from the body Vmember actuatable by air currents to 'tilt the'body member about saidhorizontal axis.

13. An instructional devicecomprising a base member, a framel mounted for horizontal' rotation on the base member, a body member Vsupported by and tiltable on the frame about a horizo-ntaliaxis, sail means 'upstanding from the body fisc member 'a'ctuatable by air currentsto tilt the 'body `member about said horizontal axis,-and

means for eiecting turning of the frame on the base member.

` 14, `An` instructional device comprising abase member, a frame mounted for horizontal rotation on the base -member,'spaced supporting members on the frame,a bodym'ember carrying sail means, pivot meansat the front and rear ends of the body member journaled in the spaced 1 `'supporting members fand f mounting the kbody fmember for tilting movement on the framegsaid lfsailfmeans:being actuata'ble by` air currents to tion'of the motorinireversedire'ctions, Vsaid ccntrol member upon movement in one ldirection -e1ectthe tilting movement of the'body member on the frame, and means for effecting turning vof the frame on the base member.

15. An instructional device comprising a base member, a frame mounted for horizontal rotation onthe ybase member, spaced supporting memberson the frame, a body member, pivot means at the opposite ends of the body member adjustable vertically-relative to the body member, said pivot means being journaled -in -theio spaced supporting members and suspending the body ymember for tilting movement on the frame `about a horizontal -axis determined by the adjustment ofthe'pivot means, said means actuatable by aircurrents to cause. said tilting move-f:

ment of the body member, and means for effect- 'I ing turning ofthe frameon the base member.

16, An `instructional device comprisingfa'base m'emben aframe mounted for horizontal rotation on the base member,-a body member, meansagg on theirame supporting-the body member for tilting movement ofthe body member about a horizontal axis, means for vertically adjusting the body member relative to the tilting axis, sail `means actuatable by air currentsto cause saidff tilting movement of the body member, and means for effecting turning ofthe frame and tilting of -the body member.

17. An'in'structional device comprising a base member, a frame mounted for horizontal rota-U tion on the base member,a body member supported by the frame for lateral tilting movement, a mast upstanding from the body member at a point forward of the base member, sail means lsupported by the mast actuatable by air currents*v to-"cause lateral tilting movement -Vof the body membergandmeans for eecting` turning of the frame on the base member.

18. An instructional device comprising a base member, a frame mounted for horizontalrota-iii-40 tion on the base member, a body member supported by the frame for lateral tilting movement, a mast upstanding from the body aligned with the turning axis of the frame,sail

means supported by they mast actuatable by ain.- Y currents to cause lateral tilting movement of the body member, and means for effecting turning of the'frame on the base member` 19. An instructional device comprising a `horzontal frame, a central base member supportinglrso the frame vfor turning movementabout a vertical axis, roller means supporting the ends of the frame, a body member comprising a boat-like body carrying a sail, said body member being supported by the frame for lateral tilting move-e ment and for turning movement with the frame, said sail being actuatable by air currents to cause Vlateral tilting movementv of the boat-like body member, means for turning the frame, and con- .trolmeans in the body member for the turning;i

means.

SEIFERT WlROUSSEAU. 

